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Australian Federal Police - Platypus Journal/Magazine |
Day-to-day business achieves set outcomes
The new Ministerial Direction to the AFP reaffirms the organisation's primary roles and further strengthens the emphasis on issues such as drug trafficking, organised crime, crime involving information technology and communications, as well as enhancing its strategic intelligence capability.
The day-to-day scenarios in carrying out this Direction are as many as they are varied, with the wide-ranging responsibilities of the AFP demanding adaptability from policing on an island territory to plotting the movements of drug traffickers and computer criminals.
To achieve its goals, the AFP's program structure covers the investigation of crimes against the Commonwealth; special taskings from Government, protection services and international obligations; community policing; and training, technology, administration and communications support for operations.
A snapshot of some of the AFP's work at the end of last year included:
• The investigation of a mail bomb explosion in the ACT, and the subsequent recovery of 26 more explosive devices.
• An 9kg seizure of cannabis in New Guinea and the Torres Strait region in a joint AFP, Royal PNG Constabulary, Australian Customs and Queensland Police operation in which five bolt-action rifles also were seized.
• The disruption of an international cocaine smuggling operation with 225kg of the drug being seized in NSW.
• Overseeing the destruction by high-temperature incineration of 390kg of heroin seized in Operation Linnet.
• Maintenance of our peacekeeping commitments with a contingent of 20 members on duty with the United Nations Civilian Police in Cyprus and two peacekeepers assisting with the peace monitoring process in Bougainville.
The following outline highlights other areas in which the AFP is involved.
The AFP investigates a range of financial crimes including money laundering, bankruptcy offences, criminal assets confiscation, counterfeit currency, counterfeit credit cards, stolen credit cards, and counterfeit travellers' cheques.
The AFP also provides feedback to AUSTRAC on information used in operational and intelligence activities.
In dealing with the international flow of illicit drugs, Australian law enforcement confronts a special set of issues and problems, with its sparsely populated coastline and extensive economic exclusion zone.
The AFP conducts national and international investigations associated with drug importations, both pre-entry and post barrier, and liaises with overseas law enforcement agencies.
The AFP's computer crime teams provide technical and forensic support to investigations into crimes involving computers, computer media and electronic storage devices.
While the arrival of illegal immigrants is principally a matter for the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, the AFP provides assistance in the collection of intelligence through its overseas liaison network and in instigating the overseas investigation of principals involved in organised illegal immigration rackets.
Organised crime involves areas including drug trafficking, illegal immigration, money laundering, and credit card fraud. For Australian authorities, the challenge in policing these types of crimes lies in the fact that the organisational base usually lies off-shore, often in areas where it is difficult for Australian law enforcement to reach.
The AFP liaison officer network is vital to the early identification of transnational criminal activities which impact on Australia or involve Australians.
Liaison officers provide the integral world linkages that ensure timely protection of Australia's interests, and allow the AFP to conduct national and international investigations associated with drug importations.
In responding to special references from Government, the AFP provides policing expertise to meet the Commonwealth's United Nations commitments and international law enforcement obligations; physical protection of VIPs; safeguarding of witnesses for the AFP and other law enforcement agencies; and provides police services for the Family Court of Australia.
The AFP has a long peacekeeping tradition and maintains a 20-member contingent of United Nations civilian police officers in Cyprus who patrol the buffer zone dividing the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.
Previous deployments have included the border relief operation in Aranyaprathet, Thailand; Cambodia; Somalia; Mozambique; and Haiti; while two members are deployed in Bougainville.
The AFP is tasked with protecting Commonwealth interests during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and has a support role to the NSW Police Service.
Key roles for the AFP will include: investigation of Commonwealth offences; close personal protection to Australian high office holders and heads of foreign diplomatic and consular missions; participation in the provision and analysis of strategic criminal intelligence; community policing in the ACT, including security; and providing an interface between Australian law enforcement agencies and those in other countries.
The AFP will also be involved in events such as the Centenary of Federation and the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
The AFP performs community policing in the ACT and Australia's external territories of Jervis Bay, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
These services include maintaining peace and order; protecting people and property; investigating and preventing crime; and enforcing relevant laws.
Transferring to remote locations such as the external territories presents members with challenges and experiences they may not otherwise encounter during their careers.
The AFP has had long-standing policing and regulatory commitments to the territories, with the responsibility for maintaining peace and order.
June:Perth seizure of 2kg heroin concealed among frozen fish, and follow-up arrest.
July: introduction of ACT community policing help desk; 91kg heroin seized in commercial kitchen equipment — NSW; Nigerian letter scam resurfaces; first Australian jail sentence for computer hacking.
August: destruction of 5000 pirated CDs; 16 arrests in NSW drug raids — heroin and money seized; raids in Adelaide — five arrests relating to heroin; accountant sentenced to six years' jail in relation to 22 charges of tax fraud.
September: AFP involved in worldwide operation which breaks Internet child porn ring; AFP detects Italian fugitive wanted in relation to kidnap and ransom; diplomas awarded to 18 new agents.
October: 400kg heroin seized in NSW; 17kg ecstasy seized in Sydney.
November: 17 new agents sworn in to the AFP; 23,000 ecstasy tablets seized in Adelaide; Mexican fugitive wanted in relation to $US100 million fraud arrested by AFP agents in Melbourne.
December: mail bomb explodes in ACT, with a further 22 explosive devices located; arrest in relation to mail bombs; 9kg cannabis and five bolt action rifles seized in guns for drugs operation in New Guinea and Torres Strait region — joint AFP, Royal PNG Constabulary, Customs and Queensland Police operation; international cocaine smuggling operation disrupted — 225kg cocaine seized in NSW; 400kg heroin seized in October's Operation Linnet burned.
January: 42 new members sworn in to the AFP; 13.4kg heroin seized at Brisbane Airport; search carried out for missing six-year-old boy and his father in Queensland.
February: 25kg heroin seized in a car and house in Sydney; 225kg cocaine seized in NSW in December burned in Sydney; man sentenced in relation to January 1997 seizure of 10 tonnes of cannabis — received six years minimum.
March: 15kg heroin seized and three men arrested in Sydney; 15 new members for ACT Region; search and location of terminally ill boy and his father in Qld; 86 new recruits welcomed to the AFP; arrest of Canadian citizen in relation to 48kg heroin seizure in WA; alleged international telephone scam costing $500,000 in fraudulent phone calls uncovered in Sydney.
April: murder investigation after death of male in Braddon, ACT.
May: Taiwanese schoolgirl kidnapped in Sydney freed unharmed after joint NSW Police, AFP, Customs and Taiwanese Police operation.
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URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUFPPlatypus/1999/11.html